Apparatus for instruction for stringed instrument playing



19 1936. L. PQRTNOFF 2fi41fi4 APPARATUS FOR INsTRUcTIoN FOR, STRINGED INSTRUMENT PLAYING Filed June 10, 1931 Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTION FOR 7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for instruction for stringed instrument playing.

Particular reference is had to instruction in the use of the bow upon string-ed instruments, such as violins or the like. The proper movement of the wrist for accurate manipulation of the bow is perhaps one of the most diificult parts of violin technique to acquire. The student, in his endeavor to produce the proper rocking, or other movements of the bow, must endeavor strongly to overcome the attitude of his arm to move as a unit, as against the required position in which the arm remains substantially stationary, while the wrist itself performs most of the movement necessary for the bowing steps.

Further, in the production of staccato effects, the student must be trained in the n cessity for sharply lifting his bow away from the strings of the instrument; it is also necessary to instruct him in the fact that the bow must be lifted in an even sequence so that an even staccato effect will be produced.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus, by which the student will be positively guided in exercises designed to prepare him for the use of the bow in connection with such instruments as the violin. The apparatus is designed to guide the students wrist in certain motions, while, at the same time, restraining his arm against any material movement. The exercise motions may be, and, preferably are made in some particular relation to the definite motions of the wrist necessary to produce certain tonal effects in the ordinary use of the particular instrument.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus whereby the student may be instructed in the production of staccato effects, this apparatus being capable of conjunctive use with the other apparatus, if so desired.

Other objects of this invention will be hereinafter set forth, or will be apparent from the description and the drawing, in which are illustrated a number of embodiments of apparatusto show some of the various possible forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

For the attainment of these objects and of such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in the drawing wherein:

Figure l is a view in perspective, illustrating apparatus embodying certain features of the invention, and the manner of its use;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, partially broken away, of an arm rest forming a part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a modified form of guide, differing from that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4. is an elevational view of another modified form of the guide; and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a member to be used in conjunction with the apparatus for instruction in the production of staccato effects.

There is shown on the drawing, in Figure 1, an apparatus I0 upon which the student may rest his arm l2, while sustaining that arm and its wrist M in a definite relation to any one of a plurality of elements I6, by which a series of exercises may be performed to train the wrist for certain manipulations of the bow l8. However, it is to be understood that, while a specific type of apparatus is shown herein, and specific elements are described, the apparatus and/ or the elements may be changed in design, structure or other features, so far as necessary, so long as they are for the purpose of guiding the wrist in a plurality of exercises designed to make practically automatic, the movements of the wrist in particular sequences necessary for proper manipulations of the bow.

The stand 20, upon which the platform 22 of the apparatus l [I is carried, may be of any desired construction, and is here shown merely to illustrate that the apparatus may be supported to extend it in relation to a students arm I2 while he is standing in the position normally taken by a musician. The apparatus may, of course, be used without stand 20, as by placing the platform 22 on a table for example but preferably, since a musician using a. violin or similar instrument usually stands during its use, stand 20 is provided, and is intended to be adjustable vertically, and also so that the platform 22 may be disposed in any desired plane. For this purpose, a telescoping joint 24, provided with a set screw 26 to retain its elements when set in a particular extended relation, is made a part of the upright supporting elements of the stand, this telescoping joint being in cooperative relation to a ball and socket connection 28 immediately at the platform 22.

Platform 22 may be made of any desired material, such as wood, and has hinged thereto preferably at one end thereof, the arm rest 30. This rest may consist of an end wall 32 upstanding from a base 34, preferably the latter cooperating with the platform to carry the hinging means. In a preferred construction, the base 34 is hollowed out, as is also the end wall, so that the arm of the student may rest comfortably upon the rest. In platform 22, a slot 36, extending substantially the length of, and beyond, the base 34 of the rest, receives the upstanding guide post 38 of a slide 40, the head of the guide post, removed from the slide, being slightly enlarged and sliding between the bevelled faces 42 of the slot. In this manner, the slide is, at all times, retained positively in relation to, while being per mitted sliding movement along the slot. The slide may be positioned beneath the arm rest when the latter has been raised away from the platform, the position of the slide determining the angle at which the rest is associated with the platform. Also, when it is desired to pack the apparatus ID for transportation, the slide may be moved to the outer end of the slot, whereupon the arm rest may be collapsed against the platform.

To one side of the arm rest, and preferably to the left of such rest, there is affixed to the platform a post 44, which extends through a slot 46 in, and thus provides a guide in the sliding movement of, a bar 48, at one extremity of which is provided a column 50. The column is formed with an outwardly opening bore 52; a set screw 54 mounted on the column is intended to be extended into the bore.

The element 16 has a stem 56, which is to be inserted into the bore, and then to be engaged by the set screw 54 to retain it firmly in position. The cooperation of the set screw and the stem permits rotation of the element into any angular position relative to the wrist upon the rest. Also, by the conjunction of the slot 46 and the post 44, the column 50 may be positioned, within limits, in any desired spaced relationship to the position of the wrist. The adjustment also permits the positioning of the column not only longitudinally away from the Wrist, but also latorally and angular-1y. A wing nut 58, provided in conjunction with post 44, is intended to be threaded down upon the post and against the bar to locate the column fixedly in any desired relationship.

Each element [6 preferably is made up of wire bends to provide continuous passageways 60 within which are intended to be received the stick 62 of the bow. The stick may then be moved laterally along or transversely through the passage. The passageways preferably have a predetermined shaping, so that, as the stick moves laterally along the passageways, the wrist of the hand grasping the stick will be compelled to go through a series of movements comparable to some special wrist movement necessary for proper technique in the use of the violin or other like stringed instruments. For instance, the structure of Figure 4, designated by Hi, illustrates the exercise designed to produce the movement necessary for quick passage of the bow from one string to another, the passage of the bow along a string for effecting different pianissimo or fortissimo effects, and finally the reverse movement of the bow in travelling from the last string back to the first. Likewise, the structure in Figure 3, designated by [6", illustrates the rapid movement of the bow for changing from one string to another, and finally sustaining its position upon the last string.

By inserting the stick 62 through the passage 60 of the particular element in use, and grasping the part 62 of the stick 62, corresponding to the frog of violin bow, with the fingers 66, the student, with his arm positively retained on the rest against any material vertical or lateral movement, may manipulate the stick through the passages any number of times, in the meantime counting to himself or otherwise familiarizing himself with the specific details involved in the particular movement he is practising.

The element shown in Figure is one which may be used in conjunction with the particular apparatus herein described, and also with other apparatus not necessarily requiring the fixed location of the arm. This element consists of the stem 68, similar to that of the others, but, in this case, merely having an outwardly extending arm provided with a depression (2. For cooperation With this element, the stick 62 may be provided with a number of enlargements 14. These enlargements preferably are produced by slipping over the stick portions of an elastic tubular member. These portions may be arranged along the stick in any desired spaced relationship for the purpose appearing hereinafter.

The student, grasping the stick, moves it along the arm 10 and through the depression 12. When the enlargements arrive at the depression, it is necessary for the student to lift the bow over the arm, and thus to accomplish, in effect, the same steps he must follow when using the bow to produce staccato effects in ordinary violin practice. Spacing of the enlargements will give him a predetermined relationship or timing of the staccato notes.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular apparatus designed, and in the manner of procedure and the uses set forth, and in the specific details thereof, without substantially departing from the invention hereof, which is intended to be defined in the accompanying claims, the specific description herein being merely of operative embodiments by which the spirit of the invention may be carried out.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. Apparatus for training players in the art of playing bow-operated stringed musical instruments, said apparatus being independent of the instrument, and comprising an elongated element adapted to be grasped at one end thereof by the bow-hand of a player, and guide means for said element, said guide means being provided with a slot adapted for the insertion therethrough of said element, and the walls of said slot being adapted to guide and limit the lateral motions of said element, when it is inserted through said slot, to movement within the slot, and to such positions in relation to the slot as are assumed by a bow in relation to the stringed instrument, and a support for the arm of the player permitting free motion of the forearm so positioned in relation to said guide means that when the player grasps the element, which has been inserted through the slot of the guide means,

with his bow-hand while his arm is resting on the support, the motions of his hand and wrist will be limited to motions such as are used in playing the instrument.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the said elongated element is provided with annular enlargements of such a size that they are adapted to pass through the slot of the guide means when said element is moved longitudinally therethrough, but will necessitate a lateral movement of said element to clear the wall of the slot whenever an enlargement engages said wall of the slot, before longitudinal movement of said element may be continued.

3. In apparatus for training players in the art of playing bow-operated stringed musical instruments, said apparatus being independent of the instrument, a frame, an elbow support carried by said frame for supporting and positioning the bow-arm of a player in relation to the frame, an elongated element adapted to be grasped at one end thereof by the bow-hand of the player, guide means carried by said frame, said guide means being provided with a slot through which said element may be inserted, and having walls for guiding and limiting the movement of said element when it is inserted through said slot, said support and said guide means being adapted to be positioned on said frame in such spatial relation that when the player positions his bow arm so that his elbow is in place on the support, and grasps the element, which has been inserted through the slot of the guide means, the motions of his hand and wrist will be limited to motions such as are used in playing the instrument 4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said element is provided with at least one enlargement adapted to pass through the slot of the guide means when said element is moved longitudinally therethrough, but necessitating a lateral movement of said element to clear the wall of the slot whenever said enlargement engages said wall of the slot, before longitudinal movement of said element may be continued.

5. Apparatus for training players in the art of playing bow-operated stringed musical instruments, said apparatus being independent of the instrument and comprising a frame, an elongated element having a handle portion at one end thereof, and guide means for said element carried by said frame and having an opening therein through which said element may be inserted and moved longitudinally, said opening being bounded by guiding surfaces for said element, permitting longitudinal motion of said element through said opening but restricting lateral movement of those portions thereof within the opening, without restricting the angular variability of the direction of motion of said element throughout a substantial extent, and means on said frame for supporting a portion of the bowarm of a player in such a position that when he grasps said element, inserted through said slot, with his bow-arm resting on said support, the motions of his hand will be limited substantially to such as are used in playing the instrument.

6. In apparatus for training players in the art of playing bow-operated stringed musical instruments, said apparatus being independent of the instrument, a frame, an elbow support carried by said frame for supporting the bow-arm of a player, an elongated element adapted to be graspedat one end thereof by the bow-hand of the player, guide means carried by said frame, said guide means being provided with an aperture through which said element may be inserted, and having walls surrounding said aperture on all sides for guiding and limiting the movement of said element when it is inserted through said aperture, said support and said guide means being adapted to be positioned on said frame in such spatial relation that the normal playing position of the parts, in which the guide means corresponds to the strings of the instrument and the elbow support controls the relative position of the arm, is simulated, so that when the player positions his bow arm so that his elbow is in place on the support, and grasps the element, which has been inserted through the aperture of the guide means, the motions of his hand and wrist will be limited to motions such as are used in playing the instrument.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 in which said element is provided with at least one enlargement adapted to pass through the aperture of the guide means when said element is moved longitudinally therethrough, but necessitating a movement of said element, substantially at right. angles to the longitudinal moment thereof, to clear the wall of the slot whenever said enlargement engages said wall of the slot, before longitudinal movement of said element may be continued.

LEO PORTNOFF. 

